A Singaporean couple is on trial for allegedly starving their Filipina domestic helper. She weighed just 29kg when she escaped from their Orchard Road condominium in April 2014.

Ms Thelma Oyasan Gawidan, 40, had worked for the couple for almost 1.5 years before she escaped and sought refuge at HOME, a non-profit organisation that assists migrant workers, including domestic helpers.

Ms Thelma lost 20kg whilst working for Lim and Chong. She told HOME of only being given instant noodles to eat twice a day for over a year. On some occasions, she was given bread.

I am sorry for what may appear rather insensitive question, but did they keep her locked all the time in the apartment and pay no salary? If somebody is so hungry there should be no problem to go to a Giant or Sheng Siong and buy some cooked noodles (for example). She could easily double her calories intake for ca $1 a day. To make it clear, I am not trying to defend her employers but simply something doesn't click here.

I am sorry for what may appear rather insensitive question, but did they keep her locked all the time in the apartment and pay no salary? If somebody is so hungry there should be no problem to go to a Giant or Sheng Siong and buy some cooked noodles (for example). She could easily double her calories intake for ca $1 a day. To make it clear, I am not trying to defend her employers but simply something doesn't click here.

Several things:

* probably locked up all the time* if she does get to go out, only with the family; it was mentioned that the she was still supervised when showering* she may have been a simple country lass hence the inability to fight back/assert her rights

If this was the case (p 1 and 2), I am curious why it was not mentioned. I would expect the authorities to make additional points out of it as this was in a clear violation of the law too and MoM's guidelines.

x9200 wrote:If this was the case (p 1 and 2), I am curious why it was not mentioned. I would expect the authorities to make additional points out of it as this was in a clear violation of the law too and MoM's guidelines.